Traveling beyond your means on miles and points
#46
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New York, NY
Programs: The Golden status boy
Posts: 854
This is one of my biggest pet peeves and a reason why I don't like 5* hotels. I usually approach the concierge or front desk and ask for their suggestion on a low key (ie. hole in the wall) place where they would go with their friends or family for a normal meal, nothing fancy. It never fails, they always mention a restaurant in the hotel or something super expensive and act like they blow $50-$100/pp.
Give me the European Buffalo Wild Wings!
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Because I was using multiple cards (if for nothing more than Visa vs MC vs Discover vs pre-Visa Choice vs pre-MC Shell, etc) for a long time before getting into points/miles, getting a new credit card and using it for only a limit purpose was nothing new to me (and much, much different from "switching" checking accounts or even from getting new checking accounts).
#48
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 73
Now if someone asks for advice and starts getting familiar with gaining points - thats the time to consider bringing up first-class, status upgrades, etc. Until then, "I took a trip to South Africa on points" sounds frugal compared to "I flew first-class," no matter how you spin it.
#49
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
The joke was already told by Tim Ferris, and it was a bad joke then.
Of all the offhanded and sarcastic comments I've made on FT, this is the last one I expected to need to explain is a complete and total joke. I explain miles/points and churning until their eyes glaze over and they are utterly confused. I usually lose them between "change checking accounts" and "cancel the credit card before the annual fee is assessed".
#50
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
Not in my opinion. They are allowed to post pix about the $6K they wasted on a standing in lines in Orlando, and I'm not allowed to post about my trip, which is actually something different and unusual? One of the pleasures of travel is the photographs you share with those back home. To say, "well don't share your photos" comes close to saying, "just cut them off as family" because I promise you nobody else is looking at your photos anyway!
The best response on here. I'm not accusing anyone, but be humble that you are in a position to play this game. Your 1,000 "friends" on FB don't need to hear you gloat about first-class accomodations.
Now if someone asks for advice and starts getting familiar with gaining points - thats the time to consider bringing up first-class, status upgrades, etc. Until then, "I took a trip to South Africa on points" sounds frugal compared to "I flew first-class," no matter how you spin it.
Now if someone asks for advice and starts getting familiar with gaining points - thats the time to consider bringing up first-class, status upgrades, etc. Until then, "I took a trip to South Africa on points" sounds frugal compared to "I flew first-class," no matter how you spin it.
#52
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
So the secret to your young success is having a sugar(cane) daddy or a sugar(cane) mamma? Kid, it is high time you stood on your own two feet. And walked over to Bank of America and got a checking account and an Alaska debit card. Or a cosigner and a starter credit card. Quit spongebobbing off the relatives and get a real job manufacturing frequent flyer miles. Why, when I was a kid your age we had to haul Presidential dollars from home to the bank uphill each way for our free flights and we went to bed each night hungry with nothing to eat but Healthy Choice pudding.
Living on the East coast, & having 1K family that lives in Hawaii and pays for your flight out there multiple times a year quickly puts you into the game. With their advice + large mileage balance it is easy to get sucked in. I own zero mile credit cards, but take part in as many promotions/awesome deals& mileage runs. Oh not to mention Radisson's most recent promotion!!! Treated me very very well
#53
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 73
Not in my opinion. They are allowed to post pix about the $6K they wasted on a standing in lines in Orlando, and I'm not allowed to post about my trip, which is actually something different and unusual? One of the pleasures of travel is the photographs you share with those back home. To say, "well don't share your photos" comes close to saying, "just cut them off as family" because I promise you nobody else is looking at your photos anyway!
For example, for a past trip I took to Africa on points, I "checked in" to the Cape Town airport - thats the extent I informed Facebook. A few close buddies, family, and co-workers asked for pictures, and while there were a few of the hotels we stayed in (there was a watering hole with elephants some 50 yards away - as you said, unique), I mentioned - but wouldn't take pictures - of my airplane seat...I guess I would feel like it was gloating.
As always, it depends. My immediate family and close relatives? I told them all about free business-class tickets, and set the parents up with Fidelity accounts so our next family trip will be all points. An aunt/uncle that seem mad at the world every time I mention something good that happened in my life? I'll keep it to, "I went to Africa. It was great."
#54
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 363
Not in my opinion. They are allowed to post pix about the $6K they wasted on a standing in lines in Orlando, and I'm not allowed to post about my trip, which is actually something different and unusual? One of the pleasures of travel is the photographs you share with those back home. To say, "well don't share your photos" comes close to saying, "just cut them off as family" because I promise you nobody else is looking at your photos anyway!
#55
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 688
When I talk about my upcoming trips, like the one to Brazil, I often find myself adding like a disclaimer or something--"Of course I got free flights on miles". There is no way someone of my income level could afford the kind of travel I do otherwise, especially in Australia where they don't have the mega credit card bonuses I can get as a US citizen with a good Fico. It's like I don't want people to think I am secretly wealthy (I am not) and try to hit me up for loans or something. And I don't want people who see us walking out of an IC or Westin (on points) to think I am one of those rich people who usually stay there.
Does anyone else do this? I mean "apologize" or add disclaimers when they talk about their travels?
Does anyone else do this? I mean "apologize" or add disclaimers when they talk about their travels?
#56
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
College ruined my credit.
Well I should say bad decisions IN college ruined my credit, therefor, i don't think I will qualify for a miles card anytime in this decade.
My parents have sterling credit but it would take a lot of explaining and convincing, maybe it will be worth it when I run out of my current miles and am itching for another vaca.
I don't fly first or business unless it is free however, I see it a total waste, but I don't earn them in 50-75-100k increments, so I'm frugal. Quantity over quality.
I spend most of my time lurking but FT is awesome! And inspiring!!
Well I should say bad decisions IN college ruined my credit, therefor, i don't think I will qualify for a miles card anytime in this decade.
My parents have sterling credit but it would take a lot of explaining and convincing, maybe it will be worth it when I run out of my current miles and am itching for another vaca.
I don't fly first or business unless it is free however, I see it a total waste, but I don't earn them in 50-75-100k increments, so I'm frugal. Quantity over quality.
I spend most of my time lurking but FT is awesome! And inspiring!!
#57
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Travel on points is pretty easy for me to explain. Spending on one or two cards to earn points in those programs and occasionally earn something free, people tend to understand that.
The harder thing for me to convey to people is that applying for multiple cards will not ruin your credit if you do it right, learn the ins and outs, and understand the limitations. I think people understand how I get points, but they think I must have ruined my credit for the sake of a free trip and think that is stupid.
The harder thing for me to convey to people is that applying for multiple cards will not ruin your credit if you do it right, learn the ins and outs, and understand the limitations. I think people understand how I get points, but they think I must have ruined my credit for the sake of a free trip and think that is stupid.
#58
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ORD
Posts: 208
Travel on points is pretty easy for me to explain. Spending on one or two cards to earn points in those programs and occasionally earn something free, people tend to understand that.
The harder thing for me to convey to people is that applying for multiple cards will not ruin your credit if you do it right, learn the ins and outs, and understand the limitations. I think people understand how I get points, but they think I must have ruined my credit for the sake of a free trip and think that is stupid.
The harder thing for me to convey to people is that applying for multiple cards will not ruin your credit if you do it right, learn the ins and outs, and understand the limitations. I think people understand how I get points, but they think I must have ruined my credit for the sake of a free trip and think that is stupid.
#59
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 491
Folks who live in the USA are very fortunate in terms of the ease to get airline miles and hotel points. Those of us who live elsewhere (Canada for me) need to put together the scrapings we can get. Having said that, I do appreciate being able to supplement my travel budget with what I've been able to earn over the last year, being very new to the game.
Since I made my first award booking in March this year (even though it was only in economy), I've been hooked. Travelling to places such as the pyramids in Egypt, or the Great Wall of China etc., are now much more of a possibility. One thing I would say is that all of this doesn't come free, as I've certainly spent more $ pursuing this hobby (but also done a lot more).
Since I made my first award booking in March this year (even though it was only in economy), I've been hooked. Travelling to places such as the pyramids in Egypt, or the Great Wall of China etc., are now much more of a possibility. One thing I would say is that all of this doesn't come free, as I've certainly spent more $ pursuing this hobby (but also done a lot more).
#60
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
College ruined my credit, too. For I took out alot of student loans, continued to work fulltime in college, and invested the loan money in 15% yield preferred stocks. Easy access to this type of credit simply ruined my incentive to play with credit cards. It was years of dividend payments later before I took up the cards.
If you have a mountain of debt, see if you can pay it with money orders via the BoA debit card. As to your credit rating, you may be able to rebuild it with secured cards. The key to credit is to never borrow unless you make a profit.
As to college, for most the disaster of debt is the only valuable lesson learned today. Did you ever wonder why the Gates of this world dropped out? Way overpriced and utterly worthless. A great place to breed sheep for a world filled with wolves.
And you will find wolves here. Fat wolves who feast on bleating airlines and banks. And wolves who dress as sheep and bah with the best of them until the dinner bell rings.
If you have a mountain of debt, see if you can pay it with money orders via the BoA debit card. As to your credit rating, you may be able to rebuild it with secured cards. The key to credit is to never borrow unless you make a profit.
As to college, for most the disaster of debt is the only valuable lesson learned today. Did you ever wonder why the Gates of this world dropped out? Way overpriced and utterly worthless. A great place to breed sheep for a world filled with wolves.
And you will find wolves here. Fat wolves who feast on bleating airlines and banks. And wolves who dress as sheep and bah with the best of them until the dinner bell rings.
College ruined my credit.
Well I should say bad decisions IN college ruined my credit, therefor, i don't think I will qualify for a miles card anytime in this decade.
My parents have sterling credit but it would take a lot of explaining and convincing, maybe it will be worth it when I run out of my current miles and am itching for another vaca.
I don't fly first or business unless it is free however, I see it a total waste, but I don't earn them in 50-75-100k increments, so I'm frugal. Quantity over quality.
I spend most of my time lurking but FT is awesome! And inspiring!!
Well I should say bad decisions IN college ruined my credit, therefor, i don't think I will qualify for a miles card anytime in this decade.
My parents have sterling credit but it would take a lot of explaining and convincing, maybe it will be worth it when I run out of my current miles and am itching for another vaca.
I don't fly first or business unless it is free however, I see it a total waste, but I don't earn them in 50-75-100k increments, so I'm frugal. Quantity over quality.
I spend most of my time lurking but FT is awesome! And inspiring!!